Pirates Named 'Viable Candidate' For All-Star Free Agent

As the Pittsburgh Pirates prepare for the upcoming offseason, there is a lot of work to do across the roster.

After the Pirates finished the 2026 season with a record of 82-80, the team has its sights set on going after a postseason spot in 2027. Pittsburgh was in the race for the playoffs until the last few weeks of the year, showing growth from its core group of players.

But as the front office looks to the offseason, the team may need to spend some money to put together a solid enough roster. Pittsburgh has typically shied away from spending heavily over the offseason, but it's time for this organization to invest in the team.

The Pirates have a few holes to address this offseason, and the front office will have to be active to deal with them. Pittsburgh's young core will likely take another step forward next season, but the team can't simply bank on this occurring if they truly want to be more competitive in 2027.

As the Pirates look for different ways to improve the roster, one need comes from the bullpen, with the team having to add to the relief group. All good teams have a strong bullpen, and this is an area that Pittsburgh has to build out.

While the team does have a closer in Mason Montgomery after his emergence last season, Pittsburgh could look to continue building around him. Montgomery is likely to be the team's closer again in 2027, but there is always a chance for the Pirates to bring in someone else.

MLB analyst Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report mentioned the Pirates as a potential candidate for All-Star free agent Raisel Iglesias. Iglesias played for the Atlanta Braves this past season, and he was strong for their bullpen.

For the year, the veteran posted a 2.55 ERA over 59 appearances, throwing 60.0 innings, striking out 64 batters in the process. The right-hander recorded 34 saves in 37 attempts, showing that he could be reliable when the games mattered most.

For Pittsburgh, this could be a strong addition to the bullpen, giving manager Don Kelly more firepower. Pairing Iglesias with Montgomery would offer the Pirates a legitimate one-two punch late in games, and the team could mix-and-match the arms depending on matchups.

Overall, the veteran right-hander could make a lot of sense for the Pirates, especially since he will likely only get a short-term deal. Pittsburgh won't want to take on long-term salary, which could help their chances to land the veteran.